“About the same. I took care of getting the clothes they need for the next few days from the house and brought some more of the kids’ toys and things to them. She was saying she should go home, that you guys have enough to deal with without having them underfoot.”

“I’m on my way home now. I’ll talk to her and let her know it’s no problem.”

“She’s spinning,” Tracy said with a sigh. “Changing her mind about everything from one minute to the next.”

“I guess it’ll take a while for that to stop. I just can’t imagine what she’s going through.”

“Me either, and I don’t want to.”

“It’s like watching my greatest fear happen to my closest friend—well, one of them.”

“I know. Same here. It’s awful. At times, I wanted to tell him to shut the fuck up, but I never once doubted that he was crazy about her and the kids.”

“Yes, he certainly was.”

“I’m worried about Jack. He isn’t saying much, but he’s devastated.”

“It’s so crushing to see him that way. I hate this so much.”

“I want to wave a magic wand and be done with the funeral and stuff.”

“Me, too. She’ll be all right eventually, won’t she?”

“We’ll make sure of it.”

“I’ve been hiding in the case because her grief is unbearable. I feel bad about that.”

“You’re doing what you can to get justice for him, for her and the kids. Keep doing that. It’ll matter someday that his death wasn’t for nothing. You’re saving other people by finding the person selling that poison.”

“That makes me feel a little better.”

“There’s nothing any of us can do or say to make this less of a staggering blow for her and Jack. It’s just going to take some time for them to pick themselves up and get back to some semblance of normalcy.”

“Their normal will never be what it was again.”

“No, it won’t, but it also won’t always be this awful.”

“Thanks for all you’re doing for her.”

“Thanks for all you’re doing. It helps them to be surrounded by your family.”

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, you will.”

“Love you, Trace.”

“Love you, too, kid.”

Sam closed her phone and held it to her chest, thinking about Tracy, Angela and the tight bond the three of them had shared all their lives. Sure, they’d fought as kids, the way siblings always did, but when push came to shove, they were always there for each other. She recalled the fateful night, now nine years ago, when she met Nick after accompanying Angela to a party Spencer had invited her to. While Angela and Spencer’s relationship had taken off after that night, Sam and Nick hadn’t seen each other again for six long years.

Her eyes filled with tears when she thought of Angela, Jack and the tragic loss of Spencer’s young life. Days after his shocking death, it was still impossible to believe he was really gone.